Child/ Juvenile Therapist
Listed compensation
$52k-$80k
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Specialized Forensic Unit PC is seeking a motivated and compassionate child therapist to join our team on August 17, 2026. In this role, you will play a crucial role in helping children and juveniles with mental, emotional and behavioral issues.
The right person should have a deep understanding of the therapy experience and criminal justice system. Must have a passion for serving those in need and be able to provide support, guidance, and advocacy to help clients navigate this difficult time.
Duties include evaluating clients, developing care plans and connecting clients with community resources.
This position is hybrid (telehealth and in-person) and will be scheduled 11:30 am - 8:00 pm.
Requirements
Responsibilities
- Evaluate clients to determine their needs and the support options that can help them
- Create individualized treatment care plans for each client
- Counsel individuals and group therapy
- Participate in case conferences
- Refer clients to community resources to help their specific situations
- Collaborate with other care providers to coordinate services
Collaborate with criminal justice agencies, community organizations, and other service providers to coordinate and ensure the delivery of effective services
Maintain accurate and up-to-date client records, including documentation of all assessments, treatment plans, and progress notes
Stay informed of current developments in the field of forensic clinical work and attend training and continuing education opportunities to maintain professional competency
Qualifications
- Master's or doctoral degree in psychology, counseling, or similar disciplines from an accredited institution
- Licensed, pre-license, or license-eligible as a LPC, LCPC or clinical psychologist in the state in Illinois
- Minimum of two years of experience in a related field
- Knowledge of the criminal justice system, forensic mental health, and substance abuse treatment
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport and establish trust with clients
- Empathy and emotional intelligence
- Problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
- Organizational and case management skills
- Ability to collaborate and work well as part of a team
- Commitment to cultural competency and sensitivity to the needs of diverse populations
- Job Type: Full-time
Benefits
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Education
Master's (Preferred)
Experience
Play therapy: 2 years (Required) therapy: 3 years (Required)
Language
Spanish (Preferred)
License/Certification
LPC, LCPC (Preferred)
Ability to Commute
- St. Charles, IL 60174 (Required)
- Work Location: Hybrid remote in St. Charles, IL 60174
Qualifications
- Education
- Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Child/ Juvenile Therapist at Focus HR a 7.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 25% in Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) — ranked against 7,558 active Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties, no weekend requirements.
Counselor Career Context
Of the 50 active Mental Health Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 42% are remote, 28% have no call, 66% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for Illinois is 100.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$66k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $66k in an average-cost state. 62.6% of Illinois clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 7.2 / 10 · top 25% in mental health therapy (counseling) | ranked against 7,558 Mental Health Therapy (Counseling) listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | $52k–$80k | Mental Health Therapy median $62k (middle half $58k–$70k)12 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$66k in purchasing power | Illinois index 100.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Mental Health Therapy listings in Illinois | 331 active | 7,477 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 42% remote · 28% no call · 66% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | Illinois counselor listings (all specialties): 14% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 19% offer loan repayment539 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Mental Health Therapy listings | 2,512 in the last 30 days | 1,354 the 30 days before (+86%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
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